LAPD Bodycam: Pole Saw Standoff in Boyle Heights
WATCH: On-scene video documentation is embedded below →
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Bodycam Captures Fatal Pole Saw Confrontation With LAPD
Newly released body camera footage shows the tense final moments before Los Angeles police officers fatally shot a 44-year-old man who was advancing toward them with an eight-foot pole saw in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The video, recorded on September 7, captures repeated verbal commands from officers as the armed man closes the distance on a residential street, ending in a burst of gunfire that has sparked questions about the use of lethal force.
- LAPD officers responded to a 9:54 a.m. call about a man armed with a metal pipe in a neighbor's yard on September 7.
- The suspect, identified as Zimran Canas, 44, emerged from a front gate carrying an approximately 8-foot pole saw with a 12-inch serrated blade.
- Officers from the Hollenbeck Division repeatedly ordered Canas to drop the weapon as he advanced toward them.
- Two officers, identified as Juan Laguna and Brandon Barnett, opened fire after Canas quickened his pace toward them.
- Canas was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead; no officers or community members were injured.
The Call and the First Encounter
The sequence of events began shortly before 10 a.m. on September 7, when officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollenbeck Division responded to a radio call reporting a man armed with a metal pipe in a neighbor's yard. According to official accounts, the call placed the incident near the intersection of Gillette and Bridge Street in Boyle Heights. When officers arrived, they were met outside by the suspect's wife, who pointed them toward the man later identified as Zimran Canas.
The body camera footage shows the moment officers first spot Canas walking out from behind a red wooden gate. A woman in dark clothing is seen gesturing toward the gate and then toward the officers' vehicle. The officers' body cameras captured the timestamp 10:02 a.m., just minutes after the initial call. The footage shows Canas stepping onto the sidewalk and into the street, holding a long pole with a blade at one end.
Commands to Drop the Weapon
As Canas approached, the body camera audio captured officers shouting repeated commands. "Put it down! Put it down! Put it down!" one officer yells. Another voice is heard calling, "Hello ma'am, you called? you called?" followed by "Put that down, man. Put that down, man. Put it down. Put it down." The commands continue as Canas moves closer to the patrol vehicle.
The footage shows officers retreating while maintaining a verbal barrage, ordering the man to drop the blade. According to the Yahoo News report, one officer called for backup as Canas continued advancing, and another officer urged, "Put it down, brother." The officers had their guns drawn by this point, according to the footage.
The video also shows a second person, described in the original social media post as Canas's son, being shoved aside by Canas as he walked out of the front gate. This detail is visible in the frames, where a man in a white shirt is seen standing near a tree while Canas moves past him toward the officers.
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The Final Advance and the Shooting
The turning point in the footage comes when Canas quickens his pace toward the officers. The body camera video shows him moving from a walk to a faster stride, with the blade of the pole saw pointed toward one of the officers. At that moment, gunshots ring out, and Canas collapses to the ground on the street.
The video's on-screen text overlay reads "SHOTS FIRED" moments after the commands to drop the weapon. The two officers involved in the shooting were later identified by the LAPD as Juan Laguna and Brandon Barnett, both assigned to the Hollenbeck Division. After the shooting, officers rendered medical aid before paramedics transported Canas to a nearby hospital.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene, and Canas was pronounced dead at the hospital. According to KTLA, no officers or community members were injured in the incident. The suspect's pole saw was collected at the scene and booked as evidence, and the street was blocked off as the investigation continued.
Scene Evidence and Official Parameters
| Incident Parameter | Observation at the Scene |
|---|---|
| Date and Time | September 7, approximately 9:54 a.m. call; shooting at about 10:02 a.m. |
| Location | Gillette and Bridge Street area, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles |
| Suspect | Zimran Canas, 44, Los Angeles resident |
| Weapon Recovered | Pole saw, approximately 8 feet long with a 12-inch serrated blade |
| Initial Call | Man armed with a metal pipe in a neighbor's yard |
| Responding Officers | Juan Laguna and Brandon Barnett, Hollenbeck Division |
| Outcome | Suspect transported to hospital, pronounced dead; no other injuries reported |
The Aftermath and Community Questions
The release of the body camera footage has prompted reactions from community members and online observers. The original social media post by @Thefactsdude summarized the encounter with the line "Pole with a blade: 0 Firearm: 1," a framing that drew comments ranging from support for the officers to questions about the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
The LAPD has not publicly identified the officers' current duty status, and the department's investigation into the shooting continues. Under California law, the state Department of Justice reviews all fatal officer-involved shootings involving unarmed civilians, though it remains unclear whether that review applies in this case given the presence of a weapon. The KTLA report noted that the suspect was armed with a large tree trimmer, described as having an approximate 12-inch serrated blade, which officers encountered upon arrival.
Core Questions and Unresolved Issues
- What specific threat assessment led the officers to transition from verbal commands to lethal force within seconds of the suspect's advance?
- Was the initial call about a metal pipe, and how did that description evolve into the recovery of an eight-foot pole saw?
- What is the current status of the LAPD's internal investigation, and will the full body camera footage be released to the public?
The body camera footage provides a frame-by-frame record of the encounter, but the full investigative record remains under review. The LAPD has not indicated when its investigation will conclude, and the two officers involved have not made public statements. For now, the video stands as the most complete public account of the minutes that ended with a fatal shooting on a quiet Boyle Heights street.
What should the department release next to provide clarity on this case?
